CCC calls for investment in low carbon, resilient infrastructure, not new roads

Wed 06 May 2020 View all news

The Committee on Climate Change has laid out what it describes as six key principles that government should adopt for a resilient recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. CCC Chair Lord Deben and the Committee's Baroness Brown set out the principles in open letters to the Prime Minister and First Ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Committee says that reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change must be integral to the UK’s recovery package.

Immediate steps are needed for example, it says, to invest in low carbon, resilient infrastructure such as improved broadband instead of new roads; to make it easy for people to work remotely, walk and cycle and to expand tree planting, peatland restoration, green spaces and green infrastructure.

In the 2020 Budget, prior to the pandemic, the Chancellor announced plans for “the largest ever investment in English strategic roads, with over £27 billion between 2020 and 2025” (link).

Governments in all UK nations should prioritise actions to recover from the pandemic based on six resilience principles. These are:

  • Use climate investments to support economic recovery and jobs. The CCC has previously identified a detailed set of investments to reduce emissions and manage the social, environmental and economic impacts of climate change. Many are labour-intensive, spread across the UK and ready to roll out as part of a targeted and timely stimulus package.
  • Lead a shift towards positive, long-term behaviours. The Government can lead the way to new social norms that benefit well-being, improve productivity and reduce emissions. This includes actions to support home-working, remote medical consultations and improve safety for cyclists.
  • Tackle the wider ‘resilience deficit’ on climate change. Strong policies are needed to reduce the UK’s vulnerability to the destructive risks of climate change and to avoid a disorderly transition to Net Zero. They must be implemented alongside the response to COVID-19 and will bring benefits to health, well-being and national security.
  • Embed fairness as a core principle. The benefits of acting on climate change must be shared widely, and the costs must not burden those who are least able to pay, or whose livelihoods are most at risk as the economy changes. Lost or threatened jobs of today should be replaced by those created by the new, resilient economy.
  • Ensure the recovery does not lock-in greenhouse gas emissions or increased risk. As it kick-starts the economy, the Government should avoid locking-in higher emissions or increased vulnerability to climate change in the longer-term. Support for carbon-intensive sectors should be contingent on them taking real and lasting action on climate change, and all new investments need to be resilient to future climate risks.
  • Strengthen incentives to reduce emissions when considering tax changes. Revenue could be raised by setting or raising carbon prices for sectors of the economy which do not bear the full costs of emitting greenhouse gases. Low global oil prices provide an opportunity to increase carbon taxes without hurting consumers.

CCC Chairman, Lord Deben, said: “The COVID-19 crisis has shown the importance of planning well for the risks the country faces. Recovery means investing in new jobs, cleaner air and improved health. The actions needed to tackle climate change are central to rebuilding our economy. The Government must prioritise actions that reduce climate risks and avoid measures that lock-in higher emissions.”

The Committee’s letter details the steps that Governments can take as a priority, emerging from these six overarching principles.

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